Latest news with #AlyssaBrown
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill banning DEI in Arkansas local government sent to governor's desk
State Rep. Alyssa Brown speaks in favor of bill that would prohibit DEI in local government on April 14, 2025. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) Legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices at the local level passed the Arkansas House of Representatives Monday, sending the bill to the governor's desk. Senate Bill 520 is one of several bills targeting culture war issues that have been taken up during the 2025 legislative session. The bill, if it becomes law, would prohibit DEI 'offices, officers, policies, or practices in local government.' Under the proposed law, local governments would be prohibited from implementing hiring and employment policies that take into account diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI offices, or programs, policies, practices or applicant statements that promote DEI. Local officials or contractors would also be prohibited from compelling another official or contractor to 'personally affirm, adopt, or adhere' to certain beliefs or ideals specified in the bill. Private citizens would have a right to sue local governments if they do not cease violations of the prohibition within 30 days of being notified under the bill. Senate Bill 520 is sponsored by Rep. Alyssa Brown, R-Heber Springs, in the House and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, in the Senate. Sullivan also sponsored Act 116 of 2025, which repealed state affirmative action programs and prohibited 'discrimination or preferential treatment by state entities.' Sullivan told the Senate last week that the state needed to align itself with the current presidential administration's positions on DEI. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January that shut down DEI programs within the federal government, and the government has targeted federal grants for cancellation for not complying with the administration's positions on DEI. Rep. Jessie McGruder, D-Marion, criticized the bill on the House floor Monday, asking why SB 520 was targeting local governments when state GOP lawmakers placed so much emphasis on maintaining and returning 'local control' to cities and counties. 'I'm trying to get an understanding of why we're doing this, because we always say 'local control,'' McGruder said. 'So each city should be able to control what's happening within their community. We don't understand the differences in the dynamics that occur in each and every community.' Brown appeared to take issue with McGruder's comments when closing for her bill. 'We don't get to gaslight members with this idea of local control that takes away what is deemed constitutional. We wouldn't let a local government take away the Second Amendment rights of their citizens,' Brown said. 'This bill is about making sure we're consistent with what we've passed on a state level.' Brown added that 'discrimination is illegal under federal and state civil rights law, but this bill ensures that in the process of preventing discrimination, we do not allow our local government to discriminate in its policies.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas bill allowing for display of Ten Commandments in classrooms heads to governor's desk
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A bill in the Arkansas legislature that would allow for the display of the Ten Commandments in public places, such as school classrooms, is headed to the governor's desk for her signature. Senate Bill 433, sponsored by Sen. Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R-Heber Springs), would allow for a copy of the Ten Commandments to be posted in visible places in classrooms alongside copies of the national motto, 'In God We Trust'. The bill was filed on March 11. SB433 passed the Senate by a 27-4 vote on March 19 and the House by a 71-20 vote on April 7. Current Arkansas Code § 1-4-133 allows for the 'In God We Trust' to be posted and displayed if funds are available. 'The copies or posters authorized under this section shall either be donated or shall be purchased solely with funds made available through voluntary contributions to the local school boards, local building governing entity, or the Building Authority Division,' Arkansas code says. Multi-million funding allocation bill for Franklin County prison fails in Arkansas legislature for fourth time The bill says the Ten Commandments must be on a 'durable poster or framed copy' and at least 16″ by 20″. It continues, saying that if a copy of the Ten Commandments does not follow the requirements, an institution can replace it with one that does meet the criteria. Similar bills have been filed in Oklahoma and Louisiana in recent years. Sen. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) has filed two bills in the last two legislative sessions that would require the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma classrooms. His 2024 version made it to the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee but wasn't picked up on the agenda and was effectively killed by former committee chair Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore), according to Nexstar's KFOR. The 2025 version has had no updates in the Oklahoma legislature since Feb. 4. In Louisiana, a law that would have required the displaying of the Ten Commandments in classrooms was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in November 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WKBN Starting 5: 2025 girls basketball award winners announced
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Over the last 17 years, WKBN has honored some of the best high school basketball players in the Valley with our Starting 5 award. Watch the video above to see which players made the WKBN Girls Starting 5 this season. These high school basketball players have won championships, shattered school records and dominated our coverage all season. Here is our 2025 WKBN Girls Starting 5: Alyssa Brown – Chaney The youngest member of our Starting 5 stuffed the stat sheet this year as just a sophomore. The Steel Valley Conference Player of the Year averaged over 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game this season while leading Chaney to its first playoff win in program history. Layke Fields – Kennedy CatholicThe Eagles senior will graduate as the only player in school history with over 2,000 points and over 1,000 rebounds. Fields averaged over 22 points, 13 boards and 3 blocks per game this season. She is the two-time reigning Pennsylvania Player of the Year, a three-time member of the Starting 5 and will continue playing next year at Robert Morris. Ava Hulett – Mineral Ridge Trumbull County's Player of the Year led the Rams with over 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game this season. Hulett helped lead Mineral Ridge to a perfect 14-0 record in the MVAC Scarlet Tier and will graduate second on the all-time scoring list with 1,360 career points. Lia Krarup – Wilmington The Hounds senior broke a Mercer County record with over 250 three-pointers in her high school career and will graduate as the program's all-time leading scorer with over 1,800 career points. The Clarion recruit has won 73 games and two Region titles over the last four years. Addison Rhodes – Crestview The Rebels junior lit up the scoreboard again this season with a staggering 26 points per game. Rhodes shattered a school record with 81 three-pointers this year and 33 consecutively made free throws. She is the reigning Player of the Year in the conference, county, district and State of Ohio. Rhodes is a two-time member of our Starting 5 and returns for the three-peat next season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine to visit UNLV Rebels Thursday
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (22-9, 16-5 Big West) at UNLV Rebels (25-7, 17-3 MWC) BOTTOM LINE: Hawaii travels to UNLV for a Division 1 Division matchup Thursday. UNLV is third in the MWC with 24.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Alyssa Brown averaging 5.7. Hawaii is 2-2 in one-possession games. UNLV makes 43.7% of its shots from the field this season, which is 10.4 percentage points higher than Hawaii has allowed to its opponents (33.3%). Hawaii averages 59.7 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 62.2 UNLV allows to opponents. TOP PERFORMERS: Aaliyah Alexander averages 1.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Rebels, scoring 11.0 points while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. Amarachi Kimpson is averaging 14.2 points over the past 10 games. Lily Wahinekapu is shooting 42.0% and averaging 11.2 points for the Rainbow Wahine. Meilani McBee is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rebels: 8-2, averaging 76.4 points, 34.8 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.7 points per game. Rainbow Wahine: 7-3, averaging 59.6 points, 35.8 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 37.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 52.7 points. ___
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas bill would allow for displaying of Ten Commandments in classrooms
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A newly filed bill in the Arkansas legislature would allow for the display of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms. Senate Bill 433, sponsored by Sen. Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R-Heber Springs), would allow for a copy of the Ten Commandments to be posted in visible places in classrooms alongside copies of the national motto, 'In God We Trust'. Current Arkansas Code § 1-4-133 allows for the 'In God We Trust' to be posted to be displayed if funds are available. Bill to eliminate daylight savings time in Arkansas fails in committee 'The copies or posters authorized under this section shall either be donated or shall be purchased solely with funds made available through voluntary contributions to the local school boards, local building governing entity, or the Building Authority Division,' Arkansas code says. The bill says the Ten Commandments must be on a 'durable poster or framed copy' and at least 16″ by 20″. It continues, saying that if a copy of the Ten Commandments does not follow the requirements, an institution can replace it with one that does meet the criteria. The bill has been referred to the State Agencies and Govermental Affairs Committee in the Senate. Arkansas legislature bills filed Tuesday include changes to the Arkansas Constitution, water bonds, human trafficking, more Similar bills have been filed in Oklahoma and Louisiana in recent years. Sen. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) has filed two bills in the last two legislative sessions that would require the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma classrooms. His 2024 version made it to the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee but wasn't picked up on the agenda and was effectively killed by former committee chair Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore), according to Nexstar's KFOR. The 2025 version has had no updates in the Oklahoma legislature since Feb. 4. In Louisiana, a law that would have required the displaying of the Ten Commandments in classrooms was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in November 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
